Fruit-picking device



April 23, 1929. G. GILLIAM FRUI'T PICKING DEVICE Fil ed March 17, 1927 Inventr tube 6 and be deposited in the tube 7 from whence it is conveyed to the Grate, basket, or other receptaele.

As disclosed in Figure '1, the upper end of i the rigid material strip 5 extends to the upper edge of the mouth 8 of the tube 6, and in order to prevent the passage of the fruit through the slot 18 at the upper end of said strip 5 there is pivotally disposed within the upper' end ot' the slot a` depending finger l, the lower end of which terminates at the inner side oi the upper iolle 19. By eason of the pvotal connection of the finger wthin the upper end of the slot 18 sad inger may be tereibly 'moved inwardly When engaged t therein without afi'ecting the spirit and seope of the uppcnded claims.

Having thus described the what I claim is: i V

;1. In a. fruit picking device of the character described, an elongated ruit delivery invention tube having a receiving mouth upon its upper' end, a rigid hacking strip arranged at one side oi the tube, the endsthereof extending beyond the ends of the tube, and being slotted at said ends, rollers mounted loosely within the slots of the hacking strip, an endless belt arranged around said rollers, the inner run thereof being arranged in the fruit delivery tube, fruit receiving cups arranged in spaced relation throughout the entire length of the strip torreceiving the fruit as the same `passes from the mouth into the i'ruit delivery tube', means within the slot at the upper end of the hacking strip to prevent the fruit'from passing therethrough above the uppermost endless belt roller and manually operable means for pulling the fruit :from the tree, said means being operable within the fruit delivery tube mouth, v i

2. In a fruit peking device of the character described, an elongated fruit delivery tube having a receiving mouth upon its upper end,

p a rigid hacking strip arranged at one side of the tube, the ends thereof extending beyond the ends ol" the tube,' and being slotted at i u said ends rollers mounted loosely within the slots of the hacking strip an endless belt arrauged around said rollers, the inner run thereof being arranged-in the truit delivery tube, truit receiving cups arranged in spaced relatiou throughout the entire `lengthfof the strip for receiving the .fruit as the same V ,In testimony whereof passes from the mouth' into the fruit delvery tube,'means within the slot at the upper end of the hacking strip to prevent the fruit from passing therethrough above the uppermost endless belt roller and manually operable means for pulling the truit from the tree,

said means bei-ng -operable within the fruit delivery tube mouth said means consisting of an elongated tube fixed at the opposte sde of the .fr-nit delivery tube', an elongated rod slidable through said tube and adapted to be nanually operated and a fruit pullingunit arranged upon'the upper end of the rod with ing the truit delivery tube mouth. p

3. In a fruit piekingdevice of the character described, a relatively elongated fruit delivery tubehaving a flared mouth upon its upper end, a hacking strip 'for the tube terminating at 'its lower end beneath said tube 'and at its upper end' at the upper edge of said tube fiared mouth, the opposite ends of said hacking strip being slotted, endless belt rollers mounted within the slots of the backing strip, th'e roller within' the slot at the upper end of the hacking strip being positioned directly adjacent :the upp'erend of the ruit delivery tube, a pivotally mounted finger arranged within the slot at the upper end ot the strip above said .roller the 'lower end thereof terminating at the inner side of said upper roller, an endless belt trained over the rollersthe .inner run thereof being arranged within the fruitxdel ivery tube, :truit receiving cups arranged in spaced relation throughout the length of the belt tor engagement within the fruit delivery tube and adapted to receive the :fruit as thesame 'falls into the tube 'from the said flared mouth; and

means operable within the mouth of the delivery tube tor pulling the fruitfrom the tree;

4-. A truit pickingdevice ot' the class dev scribed oomprising an ,elongated fruit delivery tube, a reeeivingmouth upon its upper end, a rigid niounting strip arranged alongsidc of the tube the ends .thereo'f textending beyond theends ot the tube and beingslo-t-ted;

'the upper roller, thelower free end ofsaid finger terminating in'the mouth and positioned to be ,swung inwardly bythecups and aeting to prevent the fruit `from escaping through thefupper slot.

GARFIELD GLLIAM.

I aflix mlv signature. 

